Gladiator II – Movie Reviews by Ry!

Gladiator II – Familiar Grounds of Swords and Glory: The Colosseum Awaits …

Stories are a mixture of familiar things within creative bends.  From past to the present, the cycle of what is told becomes a manner of seeing, believing and escaping.  For many, returning to a past can feel refreshing, while others will feel it is the same old ‘song and dance’.  In the world of film, returning to old properties can bring about great emotions, but also feel like it is long past due.  No matter which thought you have, there is always hope the next chapter is worth it.  In this review, I look at a sequel to a popular film.  A return to sword and glory, we follow in the footsteps of familiar things.  Even with the repeating of past elements, Gladiator II is a decent return to the mission … fighting for the people of Rome.

In the wake of tragedy, one man must fight his way through tyranny and corruption in hopes of returning Rome’s glory to its people.  When it comes to filming the next chapter, many things can feel familiar, especially when returning to a classic IP.  The magnitude of a sequel to Gladiator (Best Picture Winner) is going to be staunchly compared, even if elements are better than expected.  With this latest entry, it becomes a tale of aspiring sense within a familiar foundation.  In the beginning, we come into this world through the drop-in method, seeing that (after many years since the first), Rome is expanding under the control of tyrannical twin Emperors.  After this narrative prologue, we meet our main character, Lucius (Paul Mescal), who is preparing his African home for war against a mighty Roman legion, led by General Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal).  After an epic sequence of battle siege, death and destruction, he is forced into slavery.  This leads through an array of familiar settings (comparable to the first), where Lucius fights his way into gaining the eye of the master of gladiators, Macrinus (Denzel Washington).  After a series of conversational and single combat scenes, Lucius is picked to be one of the gladiators, which leads him back to Rome … where dissent and secret political movements are happening in the face of the evil Emperors, Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger).  From here, the film begins to move away from its familiar foundation, distancing from the original as the journey begins to stand on its own.  At this point, the rumblings of truths begin to elevate in a weaving of plotlines, bringing an alluring (but mysterious) connection between Lucius and Rome’s famed gladiator of the past, Maximus.

As the journey weaves between action sequences and political wrangling, the film starts to showcase a distinct value within themes of honor and family.  Characters are shown within individual moments of dialogue, elevating an emotional throughline to some of the unique (and sometimes over-the-top) action elements in the Roman Colosseum.  Even when you are taken ‘out of the movie’ at times, the grounded allure between Lucius, Macrinus and General Marcus provides that continual grip of enjoyment.  As certain motives are revealed and ‘chess’ pieces are maneuvered around Roman’s political sphere, we head into a third act of action, suspense and thrills of redemption.  As revelations come to the forefront, we head into an auspicious like climax, and a poignant connection to the past type of epilogue.  Gladiator II is a sequel of familiar tropes and entertaining action moments.  If you are a fan of the original, like period pieces or action/epics, this is one for you.  I believe there is enough fun to be had, worth seeing on the big screen.

Full Score – 3.5 out of 5 (Matinee)